Slatington council member Kern resigns

Only three months into the new year and Slatington borough will have to advertise for a board council seat to be filled.

During Monday night’s monthly meeting, council voted to accept Jared Kern’s resignation letter, “with regrets.”

The letter was dated Feb. 12, though Kern had not attended a board meeting since the reorganization in early January.

Councilman Bryon Reed will serve as temporary chairman of the highway committee until a replacement is named during April’s meeting.

The borough will also advertise to fill two borough authority seats.

“We need five. Right now we only have three,” Councilman Russel Hallman said.

Hallman was appointed to the third seat during the meeting.

“It’s not hard, but there are things that need attending to,” borough solicitor Ed Healy said.

Any resident interested in joining council or the authority should send a written letter to borough hall no later than March 29.

Interviews for the vacancies will be held in public with residents being appointed during the April meeting.

Fire and police

Fire Chief Jason Nicholas said the department tended to 214 calls in 2017.

This year so far, the department answered 66 calls, with 185 man hours spent in the past two months.

Nicholas also updated the board on items in need of repair.

“The garage door was purely an accident. I understand it was the third time in six years, and I know it shouldn’t happen, but we are human and all volunteers. It happened hastily, moving equipment around,” he said.

The door will cost $1,985 to be repaired by Walnutport Door Company.

“It’s been suggested we just pay this because we have a $1,000 deductible for insurance,” Councilman David Schnaars said.

Nicholas told the board a lookout will be assisting drivers in the future and said he would inform the board on disciplinary actions in the event of any future incidents.

“Disciplinary action may include suspension from driving,” Nicholas said.

The board said it requires all incident reports within 24 hours of when it takes place.

“If you are saying we have the authority to take action, we need those reports,” Councilman Jason Ruff said.

Police Chief David Rachman brought parking issues to the table.

“The issues are getting worse, not better. Where buildings are being turned into apartments, the parking is getting worse. If it’s a safety concern, we will ticket, but we are running out of parking. We should get rid of the south 700 block overnight parking,” he said.

Reed said the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation will plow curb-to-curb, but if people are parked on the street, PennDOT will avoid those areas.

“That’s why we’ve kept it the way it is,” he said.

Water treatment

Roof repairs for the water treatment plant were approved, with $19,000 in shingle repair on the plant and $4,400 in patchwork to the pump house being awarded to Joel Alpha Home Improvements.

“We budgeted $40,000 for the repairs this year,” council President Daniel Stevens said.

“So this is a savings.”

Hallman suggested having the company take a look at the fire company’s roof which Nicholas reported to be leaking.

“Someone has to look at the fire company roof just so it doesn’t get worse.”

A pop-up photography business will be housed on Main Street for the next few weekends leading up to Easter.

Residents will be able to take a picture with the Easter bunny in this temporary location.

“We have an ordinance for the transient retail merchants. It’s $25 per day. We should make it a flat fee for her while she will be here for eight days,” Ruff said.

“We are glad she is there, and we don’t want to discourage her,” he said.